'Introduction to Telephony and Telegraphy. By E. H. Jolley.

(Pitman. 75s. Pp. 413)

This book has been especially written for the student studying for the
City & Guilds examination in Telephony and Telegraphy A and
serves also as a useful reference book covering earlier work for
examinations in Elementary Telecommunication Practices.
Firstly, a brief introduction of the origins and development of the
Telegraph and Telephone service is presented, and following on
from this is a chapter dealing with basic circuit components and
included here is a detailed description of the relay.
Principles of signalling and telephone and telegraph signalling
systems and codes then follow. Included here is a good coverage of
the teleprinter's construction and operation. Leading on from this,
transmission methods are dealt with and then follows a chapter on
manual and automatic switching. A good section here is on the
working and construction of selector mechanisms. Principles of
traffic and trunking are covered and,following this, exchange cabling
is dealt with. Described in this section are the M.D.F., I.D.F., T.D.F.,
and their associated equipment. Finally, power plant is covered
describing batteries, generators, and rectifiers, and there is also a
consideration of typical power plant and distribution.
The book contains four useful appendixes, the first of which
covers abbreviations and letter symbols. The second considers
graphical symbols used in circuit and block diagrams and the third
the colour coding of resistors and capacitors. Finally, examination
syllabuses, which this book covers, are included. Each chapter has
associated with it excellent diagrams and photographs, a useful list
of texts for further reading, and relevant exercises.
The price of 75s., however, may be a little too expensive, for as this
book is primarily intended for G.P.O. students they may well consult
Post Office literature which they can easily obtain.
D. T. W.

sponse, log. modulus methods, describing functions, and phase

plane techniques. In the chapter on describing functions, the student is introduced to non-linear systems (saturation backlash and
on-off control). The final chapter gives a brief insight into sampled
data systems.
In the appendices, as well as transform tables, etc., there is an
interesting table comparing the advantages and disadvantages of
each of the methods of analysis.
This book covers in depth all aspects of servomechanisms and will
prove appealing to both the student and graduate alike because of
the unambiguous way it is presented. It is basic for the uninitiated
Vet advanced for the more mature student, and as a result, in my
opinion, is the best book published on the subject to date.
E. McD.
Experiments for the Electric Circuits Laboratory. By Long and
Malvino.
(Wiley. 47s. Pp.165)
This well-written and presented book lays out a course of experiments primarily for the electronics technician, although some of the
experiments are suitable for sixth-form and first-year university.
The experiments are grouped round basic ideas and include
Ohm's law; Kirchoff's law; Thevenin's theorem; superposition
theorem; a.c. and d.c. networks; transformers; and measurements
with oscilloscope. All the relevant theory is given at the start of each
section and plenty of very clear diagrams are included wherever
necessary.
One section is devoted to safe practice in the laboratory, whilst
another deals with report writing and how to gain the maximum
benefit from the experiments. There are also appendices dealing
with component colour codes and standard values.
There is some doubt at times whether the book is written for the
student or for the instructor. For the latter it will form an excellent
addition to his bookshelf and give many ideas for the laboratory
class. For the student it will explain in more practical form the
theories given in lectures and textbooks, as well as supplement the
set laboratory experiments on the course work.
Itis not, however, recommended thatthe book be used on its own
for laboratory work since, as is common with many American textbooks, it has been over-simplified and contains a lot of irrelevant
information. This will either cause the student a lot of unnecessary
work of make him try to rush over the experiments without doing
them properly, since the solutions will appear too obvious, thus
causing him to miss the more relevant parts of the experiments.
J.C.C.

High Energy Physics. By V. Simak.

(Iliffe. 18s. Pp.193)
The book is suitable for someone with a degree in physics or mathematics who is either embarking on a career of research in high
energy physics or wishes to broaden his outlook by obtaining a
background knowledge of this branch of physics.
The author's approach is basically theoretical, and some knowledge of both quantum mechanics and relativity is assumed. However, a brief survey of experimental techniques is included.
Initially the reader is introduced to the important theoretical concepts of this area of physics, e.g. the Dirac Equation, the KleinGordon equation, parity, time reversal, charge conjugation, and the
C.P.T. theorem. Such a grounding is necessary for a full under*VHF Radio Wave Propagation in the Troposphere.
standing of the remainder of the monograph. The three fundaBy W. G. Burrows.
mental interactions which are encountered in high energy physics,
(Intertext Books. 40s. Pp. 130)
i.e. the weak'interaction, the strong interaction, and the electroThe author begins by explaining the need for very high frequencies
magnetic interaction, are each dealt with in separate chapters.
and describes the characteristics of VHF transmission systems
Finally a discussion is given of the application of group theoretical
with reference to the phenomenon which can cause signal strength
methods in particle physics, indicating the success of such techvariations. To assist the reader's understanding of the transmission
niques.
medium, a chapter is devoted to a description of the atmosphere and
Elementary particle physics is a wide and complex field. For this
reason it is not possible, within 200 pages, to cover the ground which typical meteorological features.
The theory of propagation in an ideal atmosphere is developed
this monograph covers and at a depth which the monograph attempts
and compared with measured data. To explain the discrepancies
to cover it and still present the subject in a textbook fashion. Confound, hypotheses are expounded, each considering a specific
sequently the reader is left to find his mathematical derivations elsemeteorological phenomenon. The final chapter discusses the more
where. In addition, successive topics are introduced in the order in
significant experimental data and relates them to the various
which they appeared historically rather than in a strictly logical
hypotheses.
sense. Notwithstanding these points the book provides a concise
The author concludes, "a great deal more investigation is resummary of the fundamental ideas of elementary particle physics,
quired if hypotheses, speculation, and guesswork are to give way to
which is well supplemented by an extensive bibliography with which
a clearer and more accurate knowledge of the subject." A highly
an interested reader may pursue the subject further.
mathematical treatment of the theory is given, backed up by a 31P. A.
page appendix.
The book is intended for final-year degree students and post*Servomechanisms. By L. A. Stockdale.
graduate or research students or workers in this field. Students
below this level may find themselves overwhelmed by the mathe(Pitman Paperbacks. 22s. 6d. Pp. 295)
matics. The book is well illustrated, the arguments developed
This book is one of many that has been published in recent years
logically, and the conclusions simply explained. A student embarkon the subject of servomechanisms. In the preface the author justiing on a study of this subject, well versed in mathematics, will find
fies his literary attempt by pointing out that he has reduced the
in this book a survey of current hypotheses and experiments not
mechanics, electronics, electrical machines, physics and mathereadily available elsewhere in a single volume. The author tries to
matics content of the bookas much as is compatable with retaining
provoke fresh thought on this subject and, for those who wish to
coherency. This Is rather an insuperable task as servomechanisms
study further, includes a total of sixty-six references to other work.
and automatic control both have their roots firmly embedded in
mathematics and electronics, yet the authorsucceeds in producing a This book should find a place in every library where radio communication is discussed.
most readable book. The inclusion of numerous worked examples,
P.W. L.
suggested experiments, and problems with answers, in addition to
the low cost and excellent subject coverage, make the book almost
*An Introduction to Random Signals and Communication
ideal from the student's viewpoint.
Theory. By B. P. Lathi.
The first four chapters are concerned primarily with definitions,
(International Textbook Co. 130s. Pp. 488)
basic concepts, and description of hardware contained in most
everyday a.c. and d.c. servomechanisms. The next four chapters
Despite what Dr Lathi says in his preface, my own impression is that
cover system performance, damping, and feedback. Chapters 8 to
this book is better suited to the graduate than the student. As an
13 cover system analysis using transfer functions, harmonic reintroduction to the subject, this book is extremely hard going but is
SEPTEMBER 1969

39

invaluable for someone who wishes to consolidate the principles of

a subject which he had already studied.
The whole of the subject matter is treated with rigorous mathematical analysis and a thorough grasp of calculus and series is
essential. Orthogonal functions and the Fourier series and transform are reviewed in relation to their use in non-random signal
analysis and then probability theory is discussed in some depth.
These powerful mathematical tools are then used to describe and
analyse random signals. The transmission of Gaussian processes
through linear systems is discussed together with the problems of
noise and the use of various correlation techniques for detection and
filtering of signals. Much space is devoted to filtering with special
reference to the Wiener Hopf condition and the matched filter. The
modulation of analogue signals and detection of digital signals are
considered with discussion of noise suppression and bandwidth.
Information theory is dealt with in the last chapter covering the
usual topics of coding, mutual information, Shannon's second
theorem, and the exchange of bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio.
Dr Lathi is obviously in complete command of his subject and is
in danger of forgetting the elementary difficulties students have
when tackling a new subject. For undergraduates this is more of a
reference book, from the point of view of both presentation and
price.
The text contains many worked examples and there are numerous
problems at the end of each chapter but I could find no answers.
Although the symbols used in the book conform to standard practice, I felt several times that a list of these at the front of the book
would have been useful.
A. W.
Resistive Circuits. By D. S. Babb.
(International Textbook Company, 45s. Pp. 313)
This book is written to satisfy the needs of a basic course in circuits having a mathematics prerequisite which does not go beyond
algebra and trigonometry. Resistive circuits are those containing
resistances and driving functions of any waveform or combinations
of waveforms. The driving functions are any number of voltage
sources and/or current sources. Analysis of these circuits is shown
to require chiefly a knowledge of albegra together with only the basic
concepts of trigonometry. The primary object of the text is to present the techniques of circuit analysis. Care has been taken to present the material in such a way as to make these techniques applicable to other than resistive circuits.
The book comprises eleven chapters of which the first four are
introductory in nature dealing with the following: the concepts and
physics of electricity; waveforms; terminology of electric circuits;
and concepts of resistance from volt-ampere characteristics.
Chapter 5 is the key chapter on which the remainder of the text is
structured. This chapter initiates the techniques of circuit analysis
emphasizing Kitchoff's current and voltage laws together with
Ohm's law as the primary concepts for the analysis of all circuits.
Chapters 6-11 deal with the following topics: series circuits;
parallel and series-parallel circuits; networks and network equations; equivalent circuits; dependent sources and electrical power.
Each chapter is subdivided into sections, and except for chapters
1 and 3, each section is followed by a relevant set of problems for
which answers are included. Most of the chapters also include
miscellaneous problems, the answers to which are not included.
Another worthwhile feature is the inclusion of a "self-examination"
with each chapter comprising completion-type statements, or questions, to aid the student in a review of the terminology and techniques previously covered in the chapter.
Resistive Circuits is a well-written textbook where great attention
has been paid to detail. Each topic is more than adequately explained
with numerous diagrams and examples. This book is therefore
recommended as a basic textbook for students studying a first
course in circuit theory.
R. P.
Electricity Supply. By M. F. Buchanan.
(Arnold. 55s. Pp.454)
As the title of the book Implies, it covers a wide range of topics, and
it is therefore all the more commendable that the author has produced such a worthwhile textbook. Whilst the emphasis of the book
is on the basic principles of the subject, sufficient depth is given for
the book to be of use to students studying for Part III of the I.E.E. and
Part II of the C.E.I, examinations. The book was published before the
syllabuses for the C.E.I, examinations were known but is relevant to
papers 41 and 49.
The initial knowledge required by the reader is not beyond firstyear H.N.C. and the author deals with the theoretical aspects of the
subject, including the latest techniques involving computers and
matrices in network analysis. Whilst the practical aspects are minimized, sufficient Information is given where this is necessary to
clarify the theory. This book appears particularly relevant to the
supply industry-based student and is a valuable addition to the
reading matter available in this field.
J. R. B.
40

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